Dress-form



(No Model.)

B. M. MGPHERSON.

DRESS FORM.

Patented May 29, 1888. I v

N E N T [1 3 .2.- III. m.

. 'm' I I \A/LTN ESSESII nrrnn STATES PATENT rrrcn.

EBENEZER M. MOPHERSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

DRESS- FORM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.383,535, dated May 29,1888.

Application filed December 10, 1887. Serial No. 257,560. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EBENEZER M. MoPHEnsoN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStandards for Dress- Forms; and I do hereby declarethat the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use thesame.

My invention consists of an improvement in standards-such as are usedfor supporting dress-forms, garment-stands, and similar articles. It isdesirable that the post of the standard used for such purpose shouldhave the smallest possible diameter consistent with the strengthrequired,in order to occupy theleast space in transportation. It is ofcourse necessary that the standard should have a broad base to supportit, and for this purpose legs or feet have heretofore beenprovided,sometimes rigidly fixed to the standard and sometimes capableof folding for convenience in packing. In the case of folding feet orlegs they have never prior to my invention been firmly secured whenspread,which has resulted inan unsteady support.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the standard with the legs folded. Fig.2 is a similar view with the legs spread. Fig. 3 is a plan view of thebottom. 7

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A is the post of the standard.

B B are the logs, the upper ends of which are pivoted to the slidingcollar 0. The legs are made to fit into holes in the casting D, which isriveted to the post or secured in any suitable way, through which thelegs are permitted to slide and spread snfficicntly to form a suitablebase of support.

My invention is particularly adapted for use in a tripod or standardhaving three legs.

E is a metal plate, which is supported by the screw-eye F, which fitsinto a hole in the casting D or the bottom of the post A. The plate E isprovided with a hole, through which the screw -eye passes, which islarger than the shank of thescrew-eye,so that when the screweye isturned up against it the plate may adjust itself and bear equallyagainst all the legs by sliding laterally. \Vithout this plate andthe'provision for its lateral adjustment it is practically impossible tohold the legs firmly, because it would be too expensive for the purposesfor which my invention is designed to make the casting D and theconnections of the legs to the collar C so accurate that a plate notprovided with means for a lateral adjustment would bear equally againstand firmly hold all the legs when screwed up against them. By providingthe plate E with a hole considerably larger than the shank of thescrew-eye F the plate must laterally adjust itself until it bears firmlyagainst all the legs.

When the standard is to be used, the collar 0 is pushed down upon thecasting D, as

shown in Fig. 2, and then the metal plate E,

which is provided with notches e e in its periphery, to correspond witheach leg of the standard, is turned so that each leg bears in one of thenotches e e. The screw-eye Eis then turned up until the plateEhearsequally against the legs and firmly clamps them in the l holes in thecasting D. The legs are thereby rigidly held in place and a perfectlysteady support is formed. WVhen the standard is to be closed forpacking, the collar 0 is drawn up, as shown in Fig. 1, and may then befixed to the standard by the set-screw G, if desired. The setscrew Gmaybe dispensed with and the legs held up when folded by placing theplate E so that the legs will rest upon it,and then turning up firmlythe screw-eye F.

I do not limit myself to the precise form of the casting D. Any guidesto direct and hold thelegswonldbewithinmyinvention. Neither do I limitmyself to the precise form of the plate E, which may be made circular,or of any shape which will permit it to be clamped against the legs. Iprefer, however, to have the plate triangular in shape, because the legsmay be folded by giving the plate aquartcrturn without removing it, asshown by the dotted lines in Fig. 8.

WVhat I claim as myinvention is--- 1. In a dress-form, the combination,with a post or standard provided with three legs or feet suitably hingedor pivoted to it, of the casting D, and a laterally-adjustable plate, E,screw-eye F, s0 arranged that the plate E can provided with means forclamping it against laterally adj ustitself t0 and be clamped against IOthe legs, substantially as described. the legs B B, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a dress-form, the combination of the 5 post A, sliding collar 0,legs B B, suitable EBENEZER MCPHERSON:

guides to direct and hold the legs, the screw- \Vitnesses: eye F, andthe plate E, provided with a hole CHAS. F. PERKINS, in its center largerthan the shank of the ANTON M. LYMAN.

